1. Literary Elements
Language Arts 9

2. 5 Characteristics of Stories
Plot
Character
Setting
Atmosphere
Style

3. 1. Plot the arrangement of incidents or events in a story Includes:
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution

4. Plot 2. Rising Action 1. Exposition
Opening Situation- tells where and when the story occurs; introduces the character(s)
Inciting force: a conflict is usually established between characters
2. Rising Action
conflict between characters develops and becomes more pronounced
built around suspense
the plot ‘thickens’

5. Conflict Opposing Forces
External Conflict: a character pitted against outside forces
P vs. Nature
P vs. Society
P vs. Physical Obstacles
P vs. P
Internal conflict: occurs within a person
P vs. Self

6. Plot continued... 4. Falling Action/ Resolution 3. Climax
moment of greatest suspense
turning point of the story
highest point of suspense
M. character changes
story can end here
4. Falling Action/ Resolution
happens after the climax
conflict is resolved
ties up loose ends

7. 2. Character
people, animals, or imaginary creatures who take part in the action
Main Character
Minor Character
events are centered around these characters
interacts with main characters
Round Character
Flat Character
Complex and fully developed with strengths and weaknesses, full range of emotions
Simple
Dynamic Character
Static Character
grows emotionally, changes behavior, learns a lesson
does not change

8. Four Methods of Characterization
what he says, does, and thinks
what he looks like
what is said about him by other characters and the narrators
an author’s direct statement

9. 3 Types of Main Characters
Protagonist: the leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text
Antagonist: The character that opposes the protagonist
Foil: a character who provides a contrast to the protagonist

10. 3. Setting when and where a story takes place Time and place Provides:
background information
character’s motives
hardships/ opportunities that allow the character to grow

11. 4. Atmosphere Tone: the attitude a writer has towards the subject
word choice may suggest tone
Mood:
the atmosphere of the story
general feeling created within a story
fear
hope
joy

12. 5. Style Point of View Figurative Language
Point of View: method or style of narration, who is telling the story and how much they know
Figurative Language: writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally

13. Point of View 1st Person: Narrator is a character in the story
“I, my, me, ours, us, we”- refers to self
narrator knows thoughts and feelings of self
may speak directly to the reader

14. Point of View
3rd Person
narrator does not participate in the action of the story, does not refer to self
Limited:
Narrator knows thoughts and feelings of one character
allows the reader to maintain emotional distance from character
Omniscient:
narrator knows thoughts and feelings of several (or all) characters
allows reader to gain insight into several characters

15. Figurative Language Irony:
some sort of discrepancy between what is expected and what actually happens
Verbal irony- the opposite is said from what is really intended (sarcasm)
ex. “Wasn’t that a smart move!”
Dramatic irony: a contrast between what a character says and what the reader knows to be true
Situational irony: the opposite is done of what is expected

16. Pacing the rhythm of the novel, chapters, and scenes
Through how the paragraphs and sentences are written
the rate at which the novel events occur and unfold
using specific word choices and sentence structure to elicit the emotions of the reader
the reader feels what the writer wants the reader to feel

17. Symbolism Something that stands for something else
Ex. a magnifying glass symbolizing a mystery
A red rose symbolizing love.

18. Parable
A short allegorical story designed to teach some lesson, moral, or truth
Example: The story of the 3 Little Pigs
Only the Pig that took the time to choose his materials wisely and to build his home with care was safe from the wolf.

19. Satire
a type of writing that ridicules the shortcoming of people or institutions in an attempt to bring about change

20. Foreshadowing hints/ clues to indicate upcoming events
used to build suspense

21. Flashback a scene inserted into the story
Usually one that has already happened

22. Cliché An overused statement Love is blind. Misery loves company.
Actions speak louder than words.
Laughter is the best medicine

23. Pun
a ‘play on words’ based on multiple meanings of a single word

24. Personification
a figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object or an idea.

25. Connotation/ Denotation
Connotation: the emotional meaning of a word
Ex. Snake: someone who is wicked or evil
Denotation: the dictionary meaning of a word
A reptilian animal lacking limbs that slithers across the ground, sometimes possessing fangs which have poisonous venom

26. 2 More Types of Figurative Language
Oxymoron: a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction
A deafening silence.
Rhetorical Question: asked in order to produce an effect or to make a statement rather than to elicit information
Is the sky blue?

27. Theme the “point of the story lesson learned coming of age
can’t run from the past
value life
don’t live by extremes
Theme can be stated or implied

28. The Short Story originally began as an oral story-telling tradition
usually it is a swiftly-sketched situation that quickly comes to its point
really became popular in the 19th and 20th century with magazines and digests

29. Characteristics of a Short Story
usually:
less complex
focuses on only one incident
single plot and setting
covers a short period of time
limited number of characters
abrupt beginning and ending
may not have a moral
between 1,000 and 20,000 words in length